Eight Georgian opposition parties announce local election boycott

A coalition of eight Georgian opposition parties has announced a unified decision to boycott the upcoming local self-government elections, arguing that participation would only serve to legitimize what they call an "unlawful Russian regime" led by the ruling Georgian Dream party.

The declaration was made outside the Georgian Parliament by Elene Khoshtaria, leader of the Coalition for Change, who read a joint statement on behalf of the participating parties: Freedom Square, Droa, Girchi–More Freedom, United National Movement, Strategy Aghmashenebeli, European Georgia, Ahali, and The Federalists.

The opposition groups stated that, under current political conditions, the electoral process cannot serve the public interest, instead providing a false sense of legitimacy to an authoritarian system. They called for total non-cooperation with the government and vowed to intensify what they described as a national resistance movement aimed at dismantling 'oligarchic rule' and advancing Georgia’s path toward EU and NATO integration.

According to the joint statement, the parties are committed to accelerating the fall of what they described as a non-democratic regime through principled and uncompromising struggle. They emphasized their belief that real democratic change can only come through complete disengagement from the existing system and sustained pressure from citizens across the country.

“We refuse to participate in the so-called local self-government elections, as we believe that in the current reality, such participation will not serve the interests of our citizens and will only create a façade of legitimacy for the unlawful Russian regime,” the declaration stated.

Shortly after reading the statement, Khoshtaria announced that she is ending her hunger strike, which she began as a form of protest against the government’s repressive measures. Former MP Gedevan Popkhadze, who also joined the hunger strike, is ending his protest as well, according to the Coalition for Change’s press office. Khoshtaria said she was “glad” to be entering what she called “a very active phase of the fight” alongside other opposition leaders.